Chiyangwa wife says riches are from God

The wife of mega-rich Mugabe nephew Philip Chiyangwa has said that their fabulous wealth comes from God. With Zimbabwe’s unity government marking one year in power on Thursday the BBC produced a programme inside Zimbabwe comparing the polarized lives of the rich and poor.

Philip Chiyangwa, Mugabe’s nephew took advantage of high inflation, price controls and shrinking demand to buy up several companies which were struggling to operate in Zimbabwe. Now a millionaire, he displays the full list in his “Native Investments” portfolio on full-length wall charts.

It encompasses everything from luxury hotels, foodstuffs to the window frame company he says he bought from Roland “Tiny” Rowlands.

“It is a gift from God. It is a blessing from God. I know people are hungry and we are very grateful for what has been done for us. ” Elizabeth Chiyangwa told BBC journalist Sue Lloyd-Roberts.

In the programme aired Wednesday on BBC Newsnight, Chiyangwa tells Lloyd Roberts, ‘It is in our hands to take the country wherever it needs to go.

Look at me – I have never left Zim for any other country, I don’t intend to leave this country, I am doing business here and I am successful here.

“If I want to buy a jet tomorrow, I will do it here. If I want to buy a Rolls Royce, I have one. If I want to drive a Bentley then I have one. If it’s a beautiful mansion house, I bought one. I built it myself,” he said.

Chiyangwa invited Lloyd Roberts to visit the 35-room mansion where his wife, Elizabeth, showed her around the family car collection – her husband’s Rolls Royce and Bentley, her Mercedes and their daughter’s sports cars.

Mrs. Chiyangwa was asked whether she feels comfortable with such wealth when people in her country are starving.

“It is a gift from God,” she replied, “it is a blessing from God. I know people are hungry and we are very grateful for what has been done for us”.

Watch Sue Lloyd-Roberts’ full report on the BBC iPlayer and Newsnight website.